Meals went mostly to Sweetwater school board

Superintendent had cited community outreach when credit card issue arose

David Walden, a longtime resident and retired Navy serviceman, said he did not consider the make-up of the meals to be a community outreach effort.

“I cannot begin to grasp how that could be a community outreach,” Walden said. “Lunch with colleagues is a complete waste of taxpayer’s money, and if you cannot be a good steward of that you cannot be a good steward elsewhere. If I can’t trust you with $10, I can’t trust you with $100.”

Aurora Clark, parent and former chair of two district advisory committees, was surprised to learn her name appears on three receipts.

“Every time we met, I am expecting that the taxpayer’s funds are not supposed to be used on any adults including parents like myself,” she said. “He did say every student would get the service he or she should get, and I did see that happen. I have seen fundings and programs and training and professional development on ensuring the student is actually achieving and learning.”

Three trustees interviewed said the topic of discussion was the board agenda and district business, but they said they were unaware the district was paying for the meal. Cartmill and Quinones did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

Ricasa said her meetings with Gandara were valuable to the community and were part of her duties at the time serving as board president and vice president.

“It was my duty to really communicate what our policy direction was to the superintendent,” she said. “Communication is even more key as we face these budgetary times.”

Former trustee Greg Sandoval’s name appeared 41 times in the three years.

“His usage of the district credit card was not good judgment when he has an expense account already approved by the board,” Sandoval said of Gandara.

Lopez, whose name appears 11 times in three years, finds the receipts disconcerting, she said.

“We had entrusted him to do community outreach,” she said. “The meals were with board members and not community leaders.”

McCann, who joined the board in January, said the meetings were to acquaint him with the new position as board president and were always about district business.

“I have reviewed the receipts of the superintendent and it amounts to two dinners and a Coke during that time for me personally,” McCann said.

In addition to a $250,000 salary, Gandara’s contract to run the Chula Vista-based district with 41,454 students and 5,257 employees grants him a $750 a month auto allowance and pays him $800 a month for other expenses, including meals, with no required documentation.